Top N.J. Lawmaker Says Marijuana Legalization Dead for 2019

“The votes aren’t there,” Senate President Steve Sweeney, a Democrat, told reporters on Wednesday. New Jersey earlier this year appeared poised to become the next state to legalize adult use, given the support from Murphy, fellow Democrats who lead the legislature and the public, only to see the effort founder in face of opposition from some lawmakers worried it would encourage drug use and increase crime. A legalization push in New York also faltered this year despite the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo.